Ipomoea plant named ‘Balsolalimli’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of an ornamental  Ipomoea  plant named ‘Balsolalimli’, characterized by its lime-green colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded to trailing growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Ipomoea batatas.

Variety denomination: ‘Balsolalimli’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Ipomoeaplant botanically known as Ipomoea batatas and hereinafter referred toby the cultivar name ‘Balsolalimli’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in ArroyoGrande, Calif. during January 2014. The objective of the breedingprogram was the development of ornamental Ipomoea cultivars with amoderately vigorous, mounded to trailing habit.

The new ornamental Ipomoea cultivar is the result of cross-pollination.The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is ‘Sweet Caroline Bronze’,U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,437, characterized by its bronze to purple-bronzecolored foliage and compact-mounding growth habit. The male (pollen)parent of the new cultivar is ILLUSION Garnet Lace ‘NCORNSP-013GNLC’,U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,612, characterized by its burgundy-red coloredfoliage and compact, semi-upright, mounding growth habit. The newcultivar was discovered and selected as a single plant within theprogeny of the above stated cross-pollination during May 2014 in acontrolled environment in Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceMay 2014 in Arroyo Grande, Calif., and West Chicago, Ill. hasdemonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all ofthe characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retainedthrough successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Balsolalimli’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Ipomoea plant:

-   -   1. Lime-green colored foliage; and    -   2. Moderately vigorous, mounded to trailing growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in having a lime-green colored foliage and foliage with anarrower central lobe. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants ofthe male parent primarily in having a different mature foliage color,smaller leaves, and a different petiole color.

Of the many commercially available ornamental Ipomoea cultivars, themost similar in comparison to the new cultivar is SolarPower Lime‘Balsolalime’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,552. However, in comparison,plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balsolalime’ in atleast the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar are smaller than plants of        ‘Balsolalime’; and    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a darker colored petiole and        lower surface leaf midvein color plants of ‘Balsolalime’.

In addition, the new cultivar can be compared to Ipomoea ‘Balsolared’,U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,686. However, in comparison, plants of the newcultivar differ from plants of ‘Balsolared’ in at least the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a foliage color different        from plants of ‘Balsolared’;    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have smaller leaves, as measured        by length and width, than plants of ‘Balsolared’; and    -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have a smaller width of the leaf        central lobe than plants of ‘Balsolared’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalfoliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographsdiffer slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description,which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balsolalimli’. The plants weregrown in 15 cm pots for 8 weeks in a greenhouse in Grand Rapids, Mich.Plants were pinched two weeks before transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and habit of‘Balsolalimli’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of the foliage of ‘Balsolalimli’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in February 2017 undernatural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants producedfrom cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouseunder conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. Theplants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in 4.5-inch pots for 10 weeks ina greenhouse utilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were pinched oneweek after transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained atapproximately 66° F. to 70° F. (19° C. to 21° C.) during the day andapproximately 58° F. to 62° F. (14° C. to 17° C.) during the night.Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandles weremaintained during the day. Measurements and numerical values representaverages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Ipomoea batatas cultivar Balsolalimli.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—‘Sweet Caroline Bronze’, U.S. Plant Pat. No.            15,437.        -   Male parent.—ILLUSION Garnet Lace ‘NCORNSP-013GNLC’, U.S.            Plant Pat. No. 23,612.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 3 to 4 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28            days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous, medium thickness.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.        -   Tuber description.—Not available, tuber formation not            observed.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 4 to 5 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,            mounded to trailing growth habit.        -   Size.—Height: Approximately 9.0 cm. Width: Approximately            18.0 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances basal            branching. Quantity of main lateral branches per plant:            Approximately 3, axils having latent shoots.        -   Branch.—Shape: Round. Strength: Strong, slightly flexible.            Length: Approximately 5.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately            6.0 mm. Length of central internode: Approximately 3.0 mm.            Texture: Densely pubescent. Color of young and mature stems:            145B with a heavy overlay of 187B when developing.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:            Approximately 11. Fragrance: None detected. Form: Simple.            Arrangement: Alternate, spiral.        -   Leaves.—Shape: Roughly cordate in overall form, palmately            divided with 5 lobes. Margin: Entire. Apex of central lobe:            Acuminate. Apex of lateral lobes: Acute. Base: Cordate.            Venation pattern: Palmate with arcuate venation in the            center lamina. Length of mature leaf: Approximately 9.0 cm.            Width of mature leaf: Approximately 7.5 cm. Length of            central lobe: Approximately 7.5 cm. Width of central lobe:            Approximately 3.0 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:            Glabrous. Color of upper surface of young foliage: 145A with            slightly darker venation and a spot of 187B at leaf base.            Color of lower surface of young foliage: Closest to 145B            with venation of 145C. Color of upper surface of mature            foliage: Closest to N144D with venation of 145A and 187A at            leaf base. Color of lower surface of mature foliage: Closest            to but more green than 147D, venation of 145C with an            overlay of 187B.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 4.5 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: Between 145B            and 145C with an overlay of 187B near leaf attachment.-   Flowering description: Not available, flower and seed formation not    observed. The new ornamental Ipomoea cultivar is grown as a foliage    plant and is not grown under conditions that are conducive to flower    production.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Ipomoea has not been observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of an ornamentalIpomoea plant named ‘Balsolalimli’, substantially as herein illustratedand described.